2-alarm fire may have been caused by explosion in Fort Collins dental office

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — An explosion and fire were reported at a Fort Collins dental office Friday morning, with fire crews saying that extensive damage had been caused after the two-alarm fire was completely extinguished.

Poudre Valley Fire Authority spokesperson Patrick Love said the fire was reported just after 3 a.m., with one caller stating that an explosion had taken place prior to the fire. Considering the presence of compressed gases in a dental office, Love said explosions at such buildings are “always a possibility.”

“But until our investigators can get in there and actually move through the remains, we will not be able to confirm that,” Love continued.

Firefighters had one area of the building mostly boarded up by 5 a.m., and Love said that one quarter of the building “suffered heavy fire damage.”

“Heavy smoke damage occurred to the rest of the building, as well,” Love said.

Thankfully, Love said, the office was closed for business at the time of the fire, so there were no injuries. But crews launched what Love called “an aggressive attack on the fire and an interior search” to make sure there were no lives in danger, which also aided in the fire being extinguished quickly.